CHAGFORD Football Club are celebrating the first team?s rise to the Premier Division of the South Devon Football League. The acceptance of three Premier teams to the newly formed Peninsular League created the opportunity for additional teams to move up a division. Having finished a creditable fourth, Chagford were moved up as a part of the SDL?s restructuring. Officers of the club see this as a just reward as the firsts have finished fourth for the last three seasons and, with a change of management and players leaving, this last season?s placing was all the more praiseworthy. John Pearce for the club said the good news was, unfortunately, tempered by the fact that the reserve team were relegated - by default. At the SDL annual meeting it was announced that Newton Abbot third team had fielded an illegible player in their end of season win against Totnes and Dartington SC Fourth team. Consequently, Newton were fined, lost the points they won, deducted a further three points and T & D were awarded the three points. As the gap between T & D and Chagford Reserves was only one point, at the season?s end, the additional points took T & D above Chagford reserves. John said: ?This is a cruel blow to the lads who fought all season against relegation and thought they had survived. Although the officers of the club, who attended the annual meeting, expressed their anger, there is little to be done as the league rules allow for this situation.? Chagford might possibly appeal. The club thanked all those who supported Chagford FC last year and looks forward to the new season which opens on August 25.
